Preparatory ground plan of the Holy Apostles complex

The architectural plan of the Holy Apostles, as it existed from the sixth century onward, was reconstructed on the basis of surviving textual records, for no archaeological survey has ever been allowed on its site, occupied since the middle of the fifteenth century by the Fatih mosque. The Rhodian credits the construction to Anthemios of Tralles and Isidore the Younger, the famous architects of Justinian’s Hagia Sophia. Although very dubious, this statement bears witness to the importance of the Holy Apostles in the eyes of the later Byzantines.

This plan is significantly smaller than the publication-quality plan (see here), and differs only in displaying the location of the Mese (main street) and in not having an outer narthex.

More Exhibit Items

Unfolding of the cube

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2819

Unfolding of the cube overlaid with partial ground-level section

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2828

Partial ground-level section

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2818

Partial ground-level section with piers

MS.BZ.019-BFF.F.1993.F2817

Partial ground plan sketch

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2830

Unfolding of the cube with repetitive cross-shaped elements

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2821

Ground plan of the main church

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2816

Preparatory ground plan of the Holy Apostles complex

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2831

Large publication-quality ground plan of the complex

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2825

Axonometric section through the center of the church

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2829

Half ground plan of the main church, and elevation of central and western domes with representation of the Pentecost

MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2822

The Holy Apostles and its dependencies: A reconstruction from the texts controlled by the comparison of parallel monuments (photocopy)

Page 27 of a draft version by Paul A. Underwood. MS.BZ.019-03-01-045.

Verses of Constantine of Rhodes concerning the architecture of the church of the Holy Apostles at Constantinople

Verses 548 to 582 from the translation by Glanville Downey, November 3, 1945. MS.BZ.019-03-01-050.